Cumberland County, ME Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)

Under 30-A MRS § 3001 (Ordinance Power), each Maine municipality has broad home-rule authority to regulate the keeping of poultry and livestock through its zoning ordinance, and Cumberland County (a non-zoning county) does not preempt or supplement those local rules. State definitions in 7 MRS § 3907 list 'livestock' as 'cattle; equines; sheep; goats; swine; domesticated cervids, fowl and rabbits; members of the family Camelidae, genus lama and genus vicugna; bison; and ratites.' 7 MRS § 3950 authorizes municipalities to adopt animal-control ordinances 'more stringent than the requirements of this chapter,' including any 'fees necessary and appropriate to finance the cost of animal control services' — but breed-specific dog ordinances are expressly prohibited. Cumberland County's own role is limited to the Sheriff's Office, Jail, EMA, Regional Communications Center, Registry of Deeds, and Public Health Department; the county does not issue zoning permits and does not have an animal-control officer separate from each municipality. Residents must check the zoning ordinance of their specific town (e.g., Portland Code Chapter 5 'Animals,' Scarborough Town Code, Gorham Town Code) for coop setbacks, hen/rooster limits, and lot-size minimums.